Building political power
11:05 AM - August 20, 2010
A major organizational priority this summer is political
activism. Unit 1 members are committed to electing local and
statewide candidates who support public services – and then hold
them accountable. The November election is coming up and we need
even more volunteers to ensure the right candidates win. If you
can help, contact unit1@seiu1000.org.
Here is what’s been happening:
Special recognition goes to Javier Cardenas who phone
banked/precinct walked at least seventeen times during the June
primary, and Jean Colyer, who will host a Vote 2010 phone
bank every Thursday in Riverside between now and the November
election. Javier is a former DBUR for DLC 787 in Sacramento; Jean
is the DBUR for DLC 704 in San Bernardino.
Two hundred and seventy-seven (277) Unit 1
members walked precincts and made phone calls on behalf of
candidates in the June primary. Local 1000 targeted four races;
won in three and lost one. Wins were AD 5 (Sacramento, Dr.
Richard Pan); AD 9 (Sacramento, Roger Dickinson); and AD 5 (Kern,
King and Fresno counties, Fran Florez.) The loss was SD 40
(Riverside and San Diego counties, Mary Salas).
In addition, 101 Unit 1 members lobbied 28 different
legislators to urge support for AB 1699 (continued payments to
state employees and vendors even in absence of a state budget);
AB 1827 (improved services for the unemployed); AB 1899
(transparency and closing of loopholes in outsourcing); and AB
1897 (opposition to selling of SCIF assets; SCIF licensure and
workload adjustments).
Three hundred and eighty-one (381) Unit 1
members turned up in the Local 1000 parking lot after work
one hot July evening to urge Senate President Pro tem Darrell
Steinberg to call the Senate back into session to pass AB
1699.
FTB senior steward Renee Lee has appeared before the
legislature several times testifying on the dire impact the
governor’s furloughs have made on her and her
granddaughter. Renee joined other SEIU members in
Washington, D.C. to lobby on behalf of workers and to protest
government bailouts of big banks that exploit people like her and
her granddaughter. Renee has been a tireless advocate for
workers bullied by this administration until they face
foreclosure and has appeared on local Sacramento news
channels.